Old skool RiotACT fave Amber Westin has returned to the pages of the Canberra Times.
Amber is banned from driving until 2017 after killing Heather Freeman in a haze of drug driving in Woden:
but was caught in August last year when police spotted her talking on her mobile phone as she drove down Petterd Street in Page.
The Macquarie woman gave police officers a false name and told them she had just arrived in Canberra from Victoria.
She pleaded guilty to charges of driving disqualified, driving with a mobile phone and giving false information.
Westin’s defence lawyer told the court her client had gone to the Hawker shops to collect methadone before driving to her mother’s home in Macquarie.
Magistrate Grant Lalor appears to have taken great pleasure in labelling Ms Westin’s driving “contumacious“.
On receiving her four month custodial sentence she banged her head on the table until she had a fit, which no doubt will be taking up court time soon as a reason for her early release.
What astounds me is that Amber Westin can drive. Obviously the victim’s friends are extremely forgiving people. I prefer the eye for an eye approach. She kills a friend/relative, I/my friends remove her eyes/arms/legs.
KB1971 said :
Permanently.
Fitzroy77 said :
Fitzroy, I have always wondered how the family members of criminals feel towards their loved ones. Of course you always will love them, but is it still the same. Do you go and visit her. Is she remorseful (obviously not as she got behind the wheel again) Does she still have custody of the child when not in prison?? If not who looks after the child? You or your parents. Was she always a handful? When did she start doing drugs? Was she good at schooling? Has she ever had a job?
Just little things that have I have always wanted to know. And thankyou for your insight.
Fitzroy77 said :
Not, I hope, from us. Congratulations for having the guts to say it here.
Fitzroy77 said :
Having family who do things like this is terrible.
I hope things settle down for you.
First of all I would like to say how deeply ashamed I am, this person is my sister. While I disagree with some of the more violent comments I do agree with most of you. Let me stress how much I love my sister, how ever that DOES NOT excuse her actions!! She needs to be kept in goal for a long time. I’m tired of my family making excuses for her. How dare she drive again. She will not learn until she is taken away from society (her last sentence was not long enough in my opinion) for a long time. Our Grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, how would she feel if we had her taken away from us then the culprit just display a blatant disregard for her life? I can’t comprehend how she can bring herself to even sit in a car. As you can see I’m very angry at her, perhaps last time I was to forgiving. I know I will cop flack for posting this.. But grow up Amber. You have caused so much pain to those that love you. She has a beautiful child that is now with out a mother, again.
To those of you that want to post harmful comments to me, I stress once again that I do not
This woman needs to be locked up for her safety and for the safety of the general public.
What a great role model for her kid/s. Hope they are placed in care, for a long long time.
So much fail in post #35 by AussieLyn.
Magistrate Lalor could be a breath of fresh air in the ACT Judiciary that has come in from country NSW. Will convicted criminals now receive judgements that are an incentive not to do the crime?
Dilandach said :
You must have been there at the same time as me. A charming woman was she.
Interestingly, while I was watching my kid on the swing I counted 75 cigarette butts in the play area. Nice.
Dilandach said :
Class. Pure class.
Erg0 said :
Her new home will be “girt” with prison bars 🙂
I wonder if she’s been put in the pokey yet? I saw a… well, I can’t say it was a woman, let’s just say a thing which had a resemblance to her standing in front of the playground at the Jamison centre with Tshirt, Jeans and no shoes. Holding an infant with some other kids playing in the playground at the time.
As I walked past she yelled “Stare some more and I’ll show ya ma flappin hairy arse!” Not sure if she was referring to me as I had walked past or the car that had just driven in front of her.
Where’s Mully when we need him?
KB1971 said :
Exactamondo
Deref said :
Oh, I don’t know. If the “punishment” for repeated serious driving offences was to be put up at the Hyatt then I might be tempted to drive like a dick so as to qualify. It’s the only way I could afford to move back to Canberra, should I want to (and I don’t).
I’m not arguing that something needs to be done (for Amber Westin, and people like her), because I like to think you can reach most people, eventually, even if it’s just through the passage of time. That said, there needs to be consequences for actions. To paraphrase Theodore Dalrymple, if there really was justice in the world, then there might be more people in prison, not fewer.
Jethro said :
I agree.
I’m not interested in punitive revenge – I just want to get her out of harm’s way – hers and ours – forever. I don’t care if we put her up at the Hyatt, as long as we can prevent her from ever getting behind the wheel of a car again.
she needs to be sterilised
poetix said :
LOL, regarding my pretty harsh statement and the other things people have said on the fate of Ms Westin – I think it is just a matter of the “Good person Internet Anonymity = Douchebag” theory! Although I have posted a little bit at times about myself on this site so I don’t feel so anonymous anymore. Better clean up my act! As a consequence I am in agreement with what you said Poetix.
It’s interesting how some people are saying she should be killed; her ugly behaviour brings out the worst in others. Yes, it’s totally her responsibility, but locking her away for a long time (and ideally forcing her to undertake therapy, which does not include using the male showers, Matt) is all we can really do.
I’d also support the use of technology to ensure she never can drive again; some sort of immobiliser that can’t be removed from her body, if such a thing exists. Perhaps it should.